WINONA, Minn. --- For the fourth time this season the Minnesota State men's basketball team went into overtime, but it was Winona State that would come away with the 72-71 win on a last-second three pointer.
With the loss, the Mavericks fall to 17-8, with a 12-7 NSIC record. With the win, the Warriors improve to 13-10, including a 12-7 league record.
After 33 minutes of play, the Mavericks and the Warriors found themselves knotted up at 49 after a three pointer from WSU's Riley Bambenek. Each team would go on to build a four-point lead in the final minutes of regulation, but it was the Mavericks that held a three-point lead at 60-57 with 29 seconds remaining.
In the closing seconds WSU's Isaiah Gray would hit a pair of free throws, while MSU's
Jalen Pendleton went 1-of-2 from the charity stripe to leave the Mavericks up by two at 61-59 with 10 seconds left. WSU was able to drive down the court to set up Charlie Koontz with the game-tying layup to force overtime.
In the overtime period, the Mavericks held the lead the majority of the time, including three instances when it led by three points. After Koontz tied the game at 67-67, the Mavericks ran down the clock before Pendleton converted an old fashioned three point play to put the Mavericks back up 70-67 with eight seconds left.
The Mavericks quickly fouled Bambenek on the inbounds pass which sent him to the line. Bambenek would hit both of his shots to make it 70-69 in favor of MSU. On MSU's next possession, the Warriors fouled freshman
Joey Witthus, who went on to hit 1-of-2 chances from the line to give the Mavericks a 71-69 lead with five seconds left.
In the final seconds it was Bambenek who would put the game away for the Warriors as he connected on a shot from long range to give WSU the 72-71 win.
Pendleton finished the game with a team-high 25 points, while junior
Jon Fuqua notched his sixth double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Witthus finished one rebound shy of his first career double-double as he tallied 15 points and nine rebounds. Â
As a team, MSU shot 40% form the field, but connected on only 24-of-38 (.632) opportunities from the free throw line. The Mavericks did hold a 44-39 advantage on the boards.
Bambenek led the Warriors with 25 points, while Kyle Bauman notched a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
As a team, Winona State shot 42.2% from the field, including an 8-of-19 (.421) performance from long range. Â
The Mavericks conclude their road trip on Saturday as they take on the Upper Iowa Peacocks. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
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